A rare Friday evening match follows after yet another disappointing result. The week 3 0-1 loss at home to Udinese provided another stark reminder that Milan needs a reset and a clear out urgently. The inability to play well and without fear for a full game needs to be fixed but it seems that the message is slow to get through to the coaching staff.

Two players in particular have been clearly responsible for the very poor start to the 2016-2017 season and yet they are the veterans who sometimes seem untouchable. Abate and Montolivo do not deserve to remain starters but despite Montella almost acknowledging it during the week they are both still likely starters. Abate starting versus Sampdoria may be understandable as De Sciglio is not ready and Antonelli only just escaped serious neck injury versus Udinese. Calabria and Abate are needed and will likely start on the sides of Paletta and Romagnoli, themselves not exactly having great starts.

If Montolivo does start it is anything but deserved and in fact shows weakness on the part of Montella, the midfielder has been a liability for a while now and should have no place, especially now that Sosa and Palisic are “vice Montolivos”. Niang’s return from suspension should push Bonaventura back to midfield and have him start with Sosa on the other side.

There has been late word that Lapadula will start in place of Bacca, in either case Suso will complete the front three.

Sampdoria have taken six out of nine points to start the season and narrowly lost for the first time at Roma last weekend.